Headlines Academy

Beauty & wellness career education resource: cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, massage therapy, and modern specialty practices.

Student portfolios: what to document from day one

Published February 13, 2026

Portfolios usually start as photo collections. That’s fine, but the fastest improvement comes from documenting inputs and outcomes.

What to record

Baseline photos (consistent lighting, angles, and distance).
Products used (brand, shade, batch/expiry when relevant).
Technique notes (what you tried, what you changed).
Aftercare summary (what the client was told, in plain language).
Follow-up outcome (what held, what faded, what surprised you).

This turns your portfolio into a feedback system. Over time, you build evidence for what works on different skin types and in different real-world conditions.

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